Experimental Method

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

Establish a cause and effect relationship between 2 variables

Question 2

In order to establish a cause and effect relationship, what must be done?

Answer 2

Experiments must be performed under highly controlled conditions

Question 3

Aiming for a cause and effect relationship

Answer 3

Seeing whether a changed in the independent variable (IV) causes a changed in the dependent variable (DV)

Question 4

Independent variable

Answer 4

The variable that the researcher deliberately manipulates

Question 5

Dependent variable

Answer 5

The variable that is being measured after the manipulation of the independent variable

Question 6

In order to see the effect of the IV on the DV, what do the variables have to be?

Answer 6

The variables need to be operationalised - written in a way it is clear what is being measured

Question 7

In order to formalise the aim, what do the researchers need to develop?

Answer 7

Researchers must develop a hypothesis

Question 8

Hypothesis

Answer 8

Predicts the relationship between the IV and the DV (how IV affects DV)

Question 9

What are the different types of experiments?

Answer 9

Laboratory, field and natural

Question 10

Laboratory experiment

Answer 10

• takes place in a laboratory (artificial environment)
• IV is manipulated and the rest are controlled
• the environment is controlled and the procedure is standardised

Question 11

Strengths of laboratory experiments

Answer 11

• can establish a cause-effect relationship
• easy to replicate
• present variable control + accuracy of measurements

Question 12

Weaknesses of laboratory experiments

Answer 12

• artificiality leads to lack of ecological validity

- biased - demand of characteristics + experimenter effect

Question 13

Field experiment

Answer 13

• natural environment

- variables are manipulated

Question 14

Strengths of field experiments

Answer 14

• more ecological validity compared to lab experiments as the behaviour occurs in a natural environment
• fewer demand characteristics

Question 15

Weaknesses of field experiments

Answer 15

• nearly impossible to replicate

- cannot control all the variables -> confounding variables

Question 16

Natural expierment

Answer 16

• natural environment
• IV is naturally occurring
• no variables are manipulated

Question 17

Strengths of natural experiments

Answer 17

• ecological validity - focuses on a natural environment

- very little bias from demand characteristics

Question 18

Weaknesses of field experiments

Answer 18

• impossible to establish a cause-effect relationship

- impossible to replicate

Question 19

Points to consider with experiments

Answer 19

Participant variability, researcher bias, artificiality, confounding variables, demand characteristics

Question 20

Participant variability

Answer 20

The extent in which participants may share a common set of traits that can bias the outcome of the study; important to consider when choosing a sample to avoid over representation of traits

Question 21

How can participant variability be controlled?

Answer 21

Random sampling

Question 22

Researcher bias (observer bias)

Answer 22

When the experimenter finds what he/she is looking for; expectations affect the findings of the study

Question 23

Artificiality

Answer 23

A term used when the situation created is so unlikely to occur that one has to consider the ecological validity in the findings

Question 24

Confounding results

Answer 24

Undesirable variables that influence the relationship between IV and DV

Question 25

Demand characteristics

Answer 25

When participants act different because they know they are in an experiment